Biodegradable bottle for liquids

ABSTRACT

A bottle for liquids which is biodegradable and is comprised of pulp products.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/336,297 filed Jan. 20, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bottle for liquids which is biodegradable and manufactured from pulp products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,764 and 5,705,237 relate to a container incorporating a hydraulically settable structural matrix including a hydraulically settable binder such as cement for use in the storing, dispensing, and/or packing of food and beverage products. Disposable containers and cups are those that are particularly useful for dispensing hot and cold food and beverages in a fast food restaurant industry.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,793 relates to a method of manufacturing pulp mold formed body. The method feeds a pulp slurry to a cavity of a paper making mold having a prescribed cavity shape to form a pulp pre-form including a main part having an opening and a separate part having a flange and connected to an edge of the opening. A pressing member is inserted into the pre-form, the pressing member is expanded to press the pre-form toward the paper making surface, the pre-form is removed from the paper making mold, and then the pre-form is cut at a joint between the separable part and the main part.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,975 relates to a pulp molded container comprising a pulp molded article having on the inner surface and/or the outer surface, a resin with the thickness of 5-300 um formed by applying a coating. The thickness ratio of the resin layer to the molded article is ½ to 1/100, and the surface roughness profile of the outer or inner surface of the pulp molded article is such that a center line average roughness is 0.5 to 20 um.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bottle which contains liquids which is biodegradable and manufactured from pulp products.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to have a biodegradable lining. It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to have a top made from the same material as the bottle. It is an object of the present invention for the top to be a screw on top which screws onto the top of the container.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to be used as a single use.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to be used for the consumption of beverages including water, juices, sports and energy drinks.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to have the look of current plastic bottles that are currently on the market today.

It is an object of the present invention for an area in the center of the container to be used as a label area for attaching a label.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the bottle with an over wrap, a sleeve that wraps the entire bottle.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to hold from approximately 2 fluid ounces to 2 liters of liquid.

It is an object of the present invention for the container to be of a size to hold 12 ounces of liquid.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to have a horizontal seam.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to have a vertical seam.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to be designed to be filled on a standard line by a third party so that it can be integrated into an existing production line.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to be molded in two parts joined together at a seam.

It is an object of the present invention for the two molded parts to be joined together with an adhesive.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to be joined together with a seam located above the fill line.

It is an object of the present invention for the top of the bottle to be a separate unit adhered to the pulp.

It is an object of the present invention for the top of the bottle to be made of a bio-friendly material that is attached to the bottle.

It is an object of the present invention for the bottle to have the existing neck design of present water bottles. The neck, particularly the flange below the threads is key to the bottling process.

It is an object of the present invention to graft a bio-plastic version of the neck and partial shoulder arrangement to a pulp shoulder.

It is an object of the present invention to bond the two components, the bioplastic neck and shoulder to a pulp shoulder and body, by bonding them using an adhesive.

It is an object of the present invention for the strength of the bond to be smooth and non porous as bioplastic.

It is an object of the present invention for the adhesive to be water based.

It is an object of the present invention for the adhesive to be a food safe compound.

It is an object of the present invention for the adhesive to be FDA approved.

The bottling environment relies on holding and controlling the bottle by the neck flange beneath the cap. The bottle rests on this flange as it is transported through the various processes of bottling which include initial cleaning/rinsing, labeling, filling and capping. The bottle may be inverted to drain after rinsing or clamped to prevent rotation as the cap and seal are twisted on; both are done by manipulating the flange.

The final stage of the bottling process is packing. Here the bottles are placed on a pallet in layers; up to 6 layers high. Each layer is separated by a corrugated cardboard separator sheet; the complete cube is then shrink wrapped. The palletized bottles will then be double stacked on a trailer. The maximum static load on a bottle is 11 bottles plus the proportional weight of the upper pallet, this is a bottle on the bottom layer of the lower pallet.

The pulp hybrid exceeds the strength and capabilities of the latest PET(polyethylene)/PLA (poly lactic acid) bottles. Current plastic bottles have had several weight reductions over time to reduce cost and address environmental concerns. These weight reductions have made the bottles quite weak.

With regard to the present invention, the pulp hybrid by virtue of being stronger, is able to endure the same or harsher environment than its plastic counterparts.

There are two predominant methods of molding pulp, the first is the conventional system where pulp is formed and then dried in a conveyor dryer. The second, called press to dry (PTD) is where pulp is formed and then dried in tools that apply pressure and heat to the pulp form as it dries within the tool.

Conventional molding lends itself to very fast cycle times, low unit cost, acceptable tolerance and very good strength. However, this method does not provide a smooth surface; it is regular but textured. This method would be suitable if the closure system did not have to be adhered onto the pulp bottle. The tolerance required for automating the bonding of the pulp hybrid components may make conventional molding a less preferred method.

PTD offers strength, tolerance and smooth surfaces. Tolerance is critical to high speed manufacture of these bottles in production. A smooth surface actually reduces cost if the bottles are sprayed with a coating; less material is required to coat smooth surfaces than textured ones.

Even though cycle time is relatively slower than conventional with PTD, this is compensated for with a greater number of tools per cycle. Furthermore, PTD equipment is much cheaper to purchase and operate than conventional, allowing for greater possibility of expansion of capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a container of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the bottom of the container of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a neck and shoulder of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a neck and shoulder of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the neck flange of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the bottle of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the bottle of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the bottle of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a disassembled view of the bottle of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a disassembled view of the bottle of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of the bottle of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a neck and shoulder of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a bottle 10 having with a top 11. The top of the bottle assists in sealing the contents of the bottle until the bottle is open. In an embodiment, the bottle has screw on portions 12 for receiving a top 11. The top of the bottle 11 can also be snapped on the bottle or attached in other ways which contain the contents of the bottle 10. The container has an area 14 for placing a label. The container has a bottom 16.

FIG. 2 shows the bottle 10 in a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 3 shows the bottom 16 of the bottle 10.

FIG. 4 shows a bottle 20 having a neck 22 and a shoulder 24. The neck and shoulder are produced from bioplastic and grafted onto a pulp shoulder.

FIG. 5 shows a bottle 30 having a neck 32, shoulder 34 and a cap 36. The bioplastic neck 32 and shoulder 34 are bonded onto a pulp shoulder using an adhesive.

FIG. 6 shows a neck flange 40.

FIG. 7 shows a bottle 50 comprising a pulp body 52, a pulp shoulder 54, a bioplastic neck 56, flange 58 and bottle cap 60.

FIG. 8 shows a bottle 70 having a pulp body 72, pulp shoulder 74, bioplastic neck and shoulder 76, neck flange 78 and cap 80.

FIG. 9 shows a bottle 90 having a pulp body 92, pulp shoulder 94, bioplastic neck 96, flange 98 and cap 100.

FIG. 10 shows a disassembled view of the bottle 100 having a pulp body 102, pulp shoulder 104, bioplastic shoulder 106, bioplastic neck 108 and cap 110.

FIG. 11 shows a disassembled view of the bottle 100 having a pulp body 112, pulp shoulder 114, bioplastic shoulder and neck 116, flange 118 and cap 120.

FIG. 12 shows a bottle 122 having a pulp body 124, pulp shoulder 126, bioplastic neck 128, flange 130 and cap 132.

FIG. 13 shows the pulp shoulder 140, bioplastic neck 142, flange 144 and cap 146.

The present invention relates to a bottle which contains liquids, the bottle being biodegradable and manufactured from pulp products.

In an embodiment, the bottle has a biodegradable lining. In an embodiment, the bottle has a top made from the same material as the bottle. In an embodiment, the top of the bottle, is a screw on top which screws onto the top of the bottle.

In an embodiment, the bottle is only used once and then disposed of.

In an embodiment, the bottle is used for the consumption of beverages including water, juices, sports and energy drinks.

In an embodiment, the bottle has the look of current plastic bottles that are currently on the market today.

In an embodiment, an area in the center of the container is used as a label area for attaching a label.

In an embodiment, an over wrap is placed around the bottle.

In an embodiment, the bottle holds between 2 fluid ounces and 2 liters of liquid.

In an embodiment, the container is the size to hold 12 ounces of liquid.

In an embodiment, the bottle has a horizontal seam.

In an embodiment, the bottle has a vertical seam.

In an embodiment, the bottle is designed to be filled on a standard line by a third party so that it can be integrated into an existing production line.

In an embodiment, the bottle is molded in two parts joined together at a seam.

In an embodiment, the two molded parts are joined together with an adhesive.

In an embodiment, the bottle is joined together with a seam located above the fill line.

In an embodiment, the top of the bottle is a separate unit adhered to the pulp.

In an embodiment, the top of the bottle is made of a bio-friendly material that is attached to the bottle.

In an embodiment, the neck and shoulder of the bottle comprises a bioplastic material and the shoulder and body of the bottle comprises pulp. 

1. A bottle for holding liquids comprising: a bottle comprised of pulp materials; said bottle being biodegradable.
 2. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle comprises a biodegradable lining.
 3. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle comprises a top, wherein said top comprises same material as the bottle.
 4. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said top comprises a screw on top which screws onto top of said container.
 5. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle is used for a single use.
 6. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle is used to hold beverages including water, juices, sports and energy drinks.
 7. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle comprises an area in center of said bottle for placing a label.
 8. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle holds approximately 2 fluid ounces to 2 liters of liquid.
 9. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle has a horizontal seam.
 10. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle has a vertical seam.
 11. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle is filled on a standard line integrated into an existing production line.
 12. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle is molded in two parts joined together at a seam.
 13. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle comprises two molded parts joined together with an adhesive.
 14. The bottle of claim 1 wherein said bottle is joined together with a seam located above a fill line.
 15. The bottle of claim 1 wherein top of said bottle is a separate unit adhered to pulp.
 16. The bottle of claim 1 wherein top of said bottle is made of a bio-friendly material that is attached to said bottle.
 17. A bottle for holding liquids comprising: a neck and shoulder comprised of bioplastic; a body and shoulder region comprised of pulp; a cap.
 18. The bottle of claim 17 further comprising a flange.
 19. The bottle of claim 17 wherein said bioplastic neck and shoulder is grafted onto said body and shoulder region comprised of pulp.
 20. The bottle of claim 17 wherein said bioplastic neck and shoulder is bonded onto said body and shoulder region comprised of pulp using an adhesive.
 21. The bottle of claim 20 wherein strength of bond is smooth and non porous.
 22. The bottle of claim 20 wherein said adhesive is water based.
 23. The bottle of claim 20 wherein said adhesive is a food safe compound.
 24. The bottle of claim 20 wherein said adhesive is PLA
 25. The bottle of claim 17 wherein said pulp is molded using a press to dry method.
 26. The bottle of claim 17 wherein said method comprises wherein said pulp is formed and then dried in tools that apply pressure and heat to said pulp form as it dries within said tool.
 27. The bottle of claim 17 wherein said bottle has screw on portions for receiving said cap. 